"...and he was a beautiful butterfly! The End!"Donna closed the book and sat it to the side.
"How about a snack, little miss?" Donna placed a few Cheerios on Josh's desk, allowing Audrey to nibble at them. She'd pick them up two at a time, one in each fist, placing one in her own mouth with a certain degree of concentration and then hand the other one to Donna, who would eat it with outlandish animation and then laugh, causing Audrey to do it all again.
Edie has dropped Audrey off on her way to dinner with a friend and they were waiting for Josh to come back from Sam's office. Donna had already packed up the files they needed to work on that evening, ready to head out as soon as he returned.
Josh and Donna found themselves working late at his place frequently. They'd usually take a short break for dinner and then resume whatever task was at hand after Audrey was asleep. It wasn't conventional, she supposed, but it worked for them.
Just came bustling through only a moment later, to the delight of his daughter, who squealed in happiness at the sight of him. Josh picked her up from where she was perched calmly on Donna's lap, tossing her into the air a few times and pretending to eat her chubby little cheeks. Audrey laughed and laughed, completely enthralled by her Daddy.
Donna sat back in Josh's chair and watched on in amusement. He had probably given a Senator the verbal ass kicking of a lifetime only a few minutes prior, but as soon as he saw his baby girl he switched gears completely.
He slung his backpack and Audrey's bag over one shoulder, grabbing his keys and surveying the room for anything he may have forgotten.
"Wanna order takeout," he asked Donna. "We can pick it up on the way."
"Already did," she told him, grabbing her purse and jacket to follow him out of the building.
They made their way through the corridors of the West Wing, Donna stopping for a quick moment when she bumped into Carol.
While she listened halfway to Carol, who was giving her some last minute information on tomorrow mornings schedule, Josh chatted with Sam, who was also on his way home. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mary Marsh in the waiting area, obviously lingering after an appointment. As Sam said goodnight to Josh and Audrey she saw Mary walk over from where she previously stood at the door. She could see that only a few words were exchanged and Josh's voice was raised as he put his free hand protectively over Audrey.
"Just leave it on my desk, Carol," Donna said as she rushed over to prevent another incident between the two. "Let's go," she told Josh. "Busy schedule this evening. Lots to do."
Josh turned and left the building but Donna could tell that something had already been said from the looks on their faces.
Josh was silent the whole way back to his apartment. The car ride was tense even with the babbling coming from the backseat.
They climbed the stairs and entered the apartment, Donna immediately popping dinner into the oven to stay warm while Josh sat Audrey on a blanket with her toys.
He was clearly tense as he removed his tie and toed off his shoes before laying down on his side to play with the baby.
Donna knew when to push him and when to leave him alone with his thoughts and tonight she said nothing, letting him unwind on his own with his daughter.
She set the table, calling them over as they vaguely discussed the files they had to work on tonight, but she could tell Josh wasn't focused. It was so unlike him.
Audrey finished her dinner and became antsy so Donna pulled her out of the high chair between them, allowing her to sit on her lap and eat a couple of the peas from Donna's carryout.
Josh just watched them, not eating much of his dinner. When Audrey was finished he wiped her tiny hands and face off and took her from Donna, wandering back over to the spot they'd previously occupied on the floor.
"You're stressed, Josh. Why don't you take a hot shower and relax and I'll get this little princess ready for bed," Donna sat down next to Audrey, who was very content with all of the attention she was receiving. Josh didn't directly respond, he just handed Audrey another of the small plastic toys she was putting into and pulling out of a box.
"You're not going to be able to get anything done if you're wound this tight," she told him.
He nodded his head absently as Donna stood again, picking the baby up with her.
"You're a good dad, Josh. I hope you know that. I see the sacrifices you make and how devoted you are to her. You don't have anything to prove to anyone."
Josh leaned in and kissed the top of Audrey's curly head, then moving over and planing a gentle kiss on Donna's forehead, giving her a soft smile before he made his way to his bedroom.
Donna drew a bath for Audrey, sitting next to the tub as she splashed and played. Eventually Josh joined them, sitting down across from Donna and leaning against the bathroom wall.
Donna could easily see that his demeanor had changed. Where he had been pensive all evening she could now see that something had clicked inside Josh. He was a man on a mission. She'd know that look in his eyes anywhere.
"Are you going to tell me what Mary Marsh said to you," she asked him as she pushed a rubber ducky around in the water.
He cleared his throat. "No, but CJ's on her way over so let's get her dried off." They wrapped Audrey in a little hooded towel and Josh changed her into a pair of footie pajamas.
"Say goodnight, shortcake," Josh told her and held Audrey close to Donna so she could give her a sloppy baby kiss goodnight. "You can go home, Donna," he added, tucking a strand of her loose hair behind her ear. "Thank you... for everything." He walked over and sat down in the corner, making himself comfortable in the rocking chair in the corner. "We'll talk in the morning."
Donna wasn't used to Josh asking her to leave so she was caught quite off guard. But knowing CJ was on the way over she didn't worry. She cleaned up from their evenings and let herself out, bumping into the press secretary in the hallway.
"Call me when you leave, no matter what time," Donna requested, and CJ nodded her head as a silent promise that she'd comply.
OoooooooooO
When CJ did call Donna on her way home it was fairly late.
"What'd he say to Mary Marsh," she muttered sleepily. "And how early do I need to go in to fix it?"
CJ laughed lightly. "That's not what it was. I mean, Mary Marsh is the problem, yes, but it's not so much what Josh said to her as what she said to Josh."
"Which was..." Donna sat up in bed, blinking against the dark of her bedroom.
"Well," CJ didn't want to skirt the question when she was talking to Donna, but she knew Josh didn't want to hurt her either. "She made some comments... about Audrey..."
"...that horrible woman, Id like to give her a piece of my..."
"...and about you." CJ finished.
"Me?"
"Donna," CJ sighed, "there are people... let's just say they know they can use you as a way to get to Josh. He's protective of you and of Audrey and nothing else really rattles his cage. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
She did. "But we're friends, CJ. Of course he's going to defend me."
CJ sighed. That's what Josh had said too. Could those two really be blind to whatever was forming between them? "Josh handled it this time. I really don't think much else will come from this, I just want you to be careful, okay? She's not the only one who's going to try and manipulate how close the two of you are."
"I understand," she told CJ, wishing to drop the subject. "How's he doing."
"He's... okay. Just worried about you, mostly. We discussed every possible angle of this and we agreed that nothing should change in your arrangement as of now. You spend a lot of time at his place and a lot of time with Audrey but it can easily be explained- he's a busy man and has a lot to do and a little girl to raise."
As long as Josh and Audrey weren't going to be put under the microscope she could live with anything else thrown at them.
OoooooooooO
The next morning Donna was waiting in Josh's office with breakfast when he arrived.
He opened his mouth to make a smart remark about her bringing him coffee when she silenced him.
"I talked to CJ last night, but I think you already know that."
His eyes widened, she had his full attention.
"I appreciate you wanting to protect me, Josh. I really do. But I need you to understand something. If anyone ever says a negative word about that little girl there isn't anyone or anything that will be able to hold me back from them. They'll wish they were dealing with Bartlet's Bulldog when I'm through with them. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." He was taken aback, but he still beamed with pride. He believed her, too.
"Good," she continued, a matter of fact time to her voice. "Now, about the other things I said last night- I meant them. And don't let Mary Marsh get into your head. You're an amazing Dad, Josh, and Audrey is a very lucky little girl." She squeezed his bicep lightly to make her point. "Okay, your schedule is on your desk, senior staff is in 5 minutes, and that," she picked up the coffee he was reaching for, quickly intercepting it, "is for CJ."
She turned to walk out. "We can finish what we didn't get through last night after work at your place. I'm taking a full hour for lunch though, I'm meeting your mom and Audrey at 11:30."
Josh just smirked at her, internally very pleased. "Whatever you say, Donnatella."
xxxxxxxxx
im having so much fun with this one! I'll be hitting all of the 'big' events (and creating a few fluffy ones of my own) but if you'd have anything you'd like to read/ episodes you'd like me to acknowledge I would LOVE to hear what they are! Feel free to comment or PM me! I can't make any promises on how well I can write them but this is supposed to be fun so... let's all enjoy it! Would love to hear from you!
-The Electric Eel